"Look at Frank over there", my 9th Grade Teacher pointing in my direction, "someone like him will never get any muscle". Those words were spoken to me at the ripe old age of 14 and I still haven't forgotten them-nor will I.

I can recall that event like it happened yesterday. Some things you just tend to remember easier than others, whether good or bad. However, in my eyes, this was exactly what I needed to inspire me to train all the more harder.

In High School I was a stalwart in the weightroom - before school, during school (I had a class in Weight Training) and after school. You could always count on me being there. I was determined to be the next great Bodybuilding sensation. However, what I was doing in reality, was overtraining!!

I was under the mindset that the more I worked out, the bigger I would get. Yes, I did get bigger, but what boy doesn't naturally grow from age 14 to 17? By the time I graduated (I did manage to take some real classes!) I had put on almost 20lbs. Not very impressive at this point and it seemed my teacher WAS right.

After graduation I plunged into several years of what I would call minor depression. I started doing the things I previously thought I would never do - drinking and drugs. Depressed by the fact I WAS small NO MATTER HOW HARD I thought I was training, I took my frustrations out by indulging in these two vices.

Eventually I did get bigger over the next 5 years. Unfortunately, it wasn't from working out, it was from drinking and not eating anything healthy. My weight went from 120lbs. to 166lbs. in this time. For the first time in my life I was overweight.

That's when I had made a decision- I was going to stop the drinking, quit the drugs, and start eating healthy and working out seriously again.

In one year alone I shed the weight, got cut up and competed in my first Bodybuilding contest- Mr. Gwinnett/Rockdale. I didn't win, I didn't even get a trophy, but what I got was a sense of purpose back in my life. I knew if I set my mind to something I could achieve it and there wasn't anybody to tell me different!

Fast-Forward to 2003
After marriage, kids, and a slew of part-time jobs, I had whittled away to a meager 120lbs. When I wore my shirts they looked like they were being hung on a coat hanger. I was literally skin and bones!

Tough Decision Time:
With no gym membership and no exercise equipment except one 30lb. dumbell, I started lifting again. I worked with my dumbell religiously, I did pull-ups outside on our tree, dips on our kitchen sink, anything that would get me growing again.

Eventually I did buy a small weight set with a starter bench (for $10 at a yard sale) and moved up a year later to a deluxe bench and some more weights.

I set a goal in 2004 that I would compete in the 2006 Mr. Georgia Masters (35+) Competition. This goal was completed and I am happy to report that I did win my division (Lightweight).

Lightweight!!!? Lightweight!!!?
Maybe you're thinking the teacher was right - after all, I was still small (competed at 136lbs.) - but consider this:
A 40 year old man, past his prime, used a dumbell and some simple weights, and without the help of ANY gym machines, AND gained 16lbs. of pure muscle....all in less than 3 years. I don't know about you, but I think I had cause to celebrate!

Now it's your turn
You may not want to gain weight....in fact, that might be the last thing you want to do!! Fortunately, I do not "specialize" in just training bodybuilders and athletes. I specialize in training inidviduals. Individuals just like you. People who want to make a change but don't know where to turn.

I have a choice each and every day when I wake up- do I train or do I come up with an excuse to stay away from the gym. Fortunately, most days, I choose to train and like most days even to this day, I use my wonderful teacher's words to inspire me to train harder, to push myself beyond what I did the previous session.

You too have a choice each and every day. Were you the kid they made fun of in school for being overweight? Or even like me, too skinny? Perhaps you hear whispers at work behind your back. You might pretend it doesn't bother you, but you know it does.

First, let me tell you, the most important thing to do is forgive them. Next, like me, let those words fuel your fire to a better, healthier you. My teacher wasn't being mean to me when she said those words, she was stating what she believed as fact.

Instead of letting anger and bitterness eat at you (daily?) choose to do something about it. Something that will benefit you. Even if you decide that Fearless Frank's Personal Training is not for you we urge you - exercise, eat right, change your unhealthy habits!!! And start today - Not tomorrow!!

Like we said, our mission here at Fearless Frank's is not to sell you a gimmick so we can get rich quick. We know there are plenty of clients out there and we will get more than our share if we run an honest, upright business.

President & Lead Trainer
Frank McNally